Just two days before they open the season in Washington, the Eagles continue to tweak their roster. They released cornerback Brandon Hughes on Saturday, according to a league source, and will likely enter Week 1 with a 52-man roster.

Hughes, a 27-year-old vested veteran, was already ruled out for Monday night's opener with a hand injury. He fractured his hand in the third preseason game against the Jaguars and has yet to return to practice.

It is possible the Eagles re-sign Hughes next week. If he was on the roster for this week's game he would have been guaranteed his $630,000 salary for 2013 because he is a vested veteran. His salary is not guaranteed if the Eagles re-sign him after the Week 1 schedule is complete

The Eagles weren't willing to make the financial commitment for the season, especially to a fringe player with a banged-up hand. Hughes has started just one game in three seasons since being claimed off the Giants practice squad.

But he was near the top of the depth chart before hurting his hand. Hughes was starting at cornerback during parts of training camp with Cary Williams nursing a hamstring injury. He may have been the first player off the bench if something happened to one of the Eagles' outside cornerbacks if he hadn't hurt his hand.

The Eagles currently have five cornerbacks on their roster, including the newly acquired Shaun Prater. Hughes' return also depends on how much confidence coordinator Billy Davis has in Prater after two weeks in his defense. Prater looked impressive in 1-on-1 drills earlier this week.